Altercation: Witness says Lowery assaulted him night of bar fight, p. 7
Development: New casino to open on River Road next summer, p. 3
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
Laura Furr Contributing Writer
The University will see major changes in the next year with seven scheduled constructions and renovations of campus facilities. Despite economic hardships for all sectors, including higher education, Chancellor Michael Martin said donors understand the University still builds when the economy is bad. The construction creates jobs, adds to the campus infrastructure and is cheaper than anticipated, he said. “You don’t stop building a great campus for future students because of a downturn in the economy,” Martin said. BUSINESS EDUCATION COMPLEX The most striking of the new facilities is the Business Education Complex, located next to Patrick F. Taylor Hall. Emmett David, director of planning, design and construction, said the complex will be visually stunning. “The interpretation is of the Italian Renaissance style with clay tile roof and glass,” David said. “It’s a modern approach to our historic core.” The BEC will be 156,000 square feet and will include a four-story rotunda, classrooms, departmental offices and an auditorium. Construction on the site began May 1, 2010, after Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the state’s commitment of $30 million in capital outlay funds for the project, which funded half the building’s cost. Martin said the other half of the funds were provided by private donations. Construction is scheduled to be completed in January 2012, with a move-in date at the end of the spring 2012 semester. Business freshman Joy Gomez has mixed feelings about the construction. “It’s very cool, but I don’t know how generations to come will feel about it,” CONSTRUCTION, see page 6
Video Games: ‘Call of Duty’ among fall releases, p. 11
Thursday, September 1, 2011 • Volume 116, Issue 9
From the ground up Seven campus construction projects planned for this year
NO marsh fires cause air quality problems Brian Sibille Staff Writer
CHRIS LEH / The Daily Reveille
See more photos and a video of on-campus construction projects at lsureveille.com.
photos by BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
[Top left] The Tiger Band Hall recently received a facelift. [Bottom left] The Business Education Complex will be finished in January. [Right] Choppin Annex is also being renovated.
Smoke from the ongoing marsh fires in the New Orleans area could cause problems for some in Baton Rouge, according to the Department of Environmental Quality. The Air Quality Index for Baton Rouge on Wednesday averaged at the orange level, meaning the elderly, children and those with respiratory conditions may experience health problems, said Tom Bergeron, DEQ environmental chemical engineer. Levels in Baton Rouge usually fluctuate between a healthy green or a moderately unhealthy yellow, Bergeron said. But levels have varied from yellow to red, the highest and least healthy level, due to marshes that have been ablaze since Friday, Bergeron said. Those with “asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions” should avoid staying outdoors for prolonged periods of time and should use central air conditioning at homes and in cars if possible, a DEQ news release said. If illnesses occur, health care providers should be consulted. Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com
SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
$200,000 Humane Society grant keeps shelter class alive Grad students get practical experience Meredith Will Contributing Writer
Wendy Wolfson and her students encounter growling and hissing when they get to work, but they leave purrs and yips in their wake. Wolfson, instructor of veterinary and shelter medicine, received a $200,000 grant in June from the Humane Society of the United States to continue instructing an elective class featuring veterinary medicine and procedures at animal shelters, which is offered to fourthyear veterinary medicine students.
This is a continuation of a $600,000 grant from the Humane Society given to the program after Hurricane Katrina, Wolfson said. The class helps 23 shelters, and Wolfson shows the students how to vaccinate, deworm, spay, neuter and treat sick animals. The program is also increasing adoptions from shelters, meaning less euthanasia is needed. Wolfson said the class provides students with experience outside the workplace. “It really gets LSU into parts of the community that usually would not be served,” Wolfson said. The money from the most recent grant will go toward vaccines, medications, surgical paraphernalia and other essentials for the
students, Wolfson said. She said the entire program is run with donations and grants. “It’s been one of the most successful programs in the last number of years,” said Joseph Taboada, associate dean for veterinary medicine students and academic affairs. The program allows students to be more comfortable in later occupations, he said. “It’s really good to see how much these shelters improve and how much the students improved as well,” Taboada said. Lara Wilson, fourth-year veterinary medicine student, said Wolfson’s class greatly improved her surgery skills and inspired her SHELTER, see page 5
courtesy of the LSU SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Fourth year veterinary students Pauline Clayton and Lara Wilson help Dr. Wendy Wolfson examine a dog Aug. 25 at the animal shelter at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson.